Nature
Traditional CraftPoint your mouse at the number on the map.
1 Echizen Shikki (Lacquerware)
Address
Sabae City
Contact Info
Echizen Shikki Processors Cooperative Association
0778-65-0030
Access here
Outline
It is said that the history of Echizen Lacquerware starts around the sixth century. When the 26th emperor of Japan was a child, a lacquer painter from the Kawada region who was ordered to recoat the lacquer on the emperor’s crown also presented him with hand painted black lacquer tableware. The emperor was so impressed with the beauty of lacquerware technique that he encouraged and promoted the local industry, which is the origin of Echizen Lacquerware.
2 Echizen Washi (Japanese Paper)
Address
Goka area (Oizu, Otaki, Iwamoto, Shinzaike and Sadatomo), Echizen City
Contact Info
Echizen Paper’s Village 0778-42-1363
Tourism Promotion Division, Echizen City 0778-22-3007
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Outline
Going as far back as the Nara Period, Japanese paper from Echizen has long been used in for the copying of Buddhist Sutras and other purposes. It was widely used by court nobles and samurai, and hence, its reputation was soon established. Two types of paper, "Echizen Housho" and "Echizen Torinoko", were particularly known for their great quality. Later, having the strong support from the Edo era government and federal lords of Echizen, Echizen developed as one of the main paper producers in Japan.
3 Wakasa Meno Agatework
Address
Obama City
Contact Info
Wakasa Agate Center 0770-56-2350
Obama City, Tourism Exchange section 0770-53-1111
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Outline
It was believed that Wakasa Meno Agatework was spread by Kihei Tamaya who invented the agate hardening process in the Kyoho period (1716-1736). The carving technique as an artistic handicraft was created by Seisuke Nakagawa in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The hard rough agate, which processes to a beautiful colour when hardened, shows a clear delicate lustre after it is polished carefully using sand from the Kongo area.
4 Wakasa Nuri Lacquerware
Address
Obama City
Contact Info
Chopsticks’ Hometown Plaza 0770-52-1733
Obama City, Tourism Exchange section 0770-53-1111
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Outline
A lacquer painter from Obama-han (a local clan) is known for producing a special type of lacquerware by creating a picture of the bottom of the sea. Later, he improved the technique and created "Kikujin Nuri", and one of his pupils also created "Isokusa Nuri". This technique is who named this lacqureware "Wakasa Nuri", protected and encouraged the products and also made his foot soldiers to do some work for them.
5 Echizen Uchi Hamono (Cutting Tools)
Address
Ikegami Town, Echizen City
Contact Info
Echizen Uchi Cutting Tools Production Cooperative Association
0778-24-1200
Access here
Outline
In 1337 a sword smith from Kyoto who was looking for a suitable place to make swords, arrived at Fuchu (now known as Echizen city). It is said that when he started producing sickles for local farmers, Wakasa Hamono was born. Later, in the Edo period, these products spread throughout Japan as a result of the formation of a commercial trade association and a protection policy under the local government.
6 Echizen Yaki (Pottery)
Outline
Echizen Pottery, first produced at the end of the Heian Period (794-1192), is one of the six oldest types of pottery in Japan. More than 200 ancient kilns have been discovered up to now. These kilns were used to produce pots, jars, grinding bowls, sake bottles, jars for tooth dye and many other every-day items, which shows the prosperity of those ancient times.
